Breyer's 25th Anniversary Silver Saddlebred Stablemate

Breyer will celebrate their 75th anniversary of making model horses next year, and with that in mind, I thought it would be fun to write about some of the special models they have produced to celebrate past major milestones. Some anniversary models have been available as regular runs in stores, like the 50th anniversary palomino Moody Saddlebred clock sold in 2000, but a few were very rare mementos given out only as promotional pieces.

The first of these models that I know of was produced in 1975 for Breyer's 25th anniversary, the elusive silver-electroplated G1 Saddlebred. The mold was brand new that year, a licensed plastic version of the earthenware ceramic model made by Hagen-Renaker and sculpted by Maureen Love. The silver Saddlebreds were created as giveaways for Breyer reps and certain high-volume Breyer retailers.

For a time, my sister and I owned three of these beauties

Breyer's first model, the Western Horse, was undoubtedly inspired by the fancy parade horses of the 1940s, many of which were Saddlebreds. Though Breyer didn't really identify the Western Horse as such until the last few years, it seems to have been at least implied with the 50th anniversary Moody Saddlebred clock. I can't help but wonder if the Stablemate Saddlebred mold was chosen for this promotion in 1975 with that origin story in mind as well.

Like the rest of Breyer's models, the Stablemate line was molded in cellulose acetate, but in order to be electroplated, the silver Saddlebreds had to be molded in ABS plastic instead. Peter Stone related to Nancy Young that B&P Electroplating had done the work, and he thought that around 1000 models had been made. They were originally packaged in small silver gift boxes with a purple flocked interior molded to fit the horse. [1]

Given the scarcity of these models---I know of about 5 or 6 in the hands of collectors---I can't help but wonder if substantially fewer than 1000 were made. After all, Breyer had to pay another company to electroplate the models which presumably was not a small outlay. Would they really have gone to such an expense for so many models they planned to give away? The models were created as promotional pieces, and the majority probably ended up in the hands of non-collectors, but you would think more might have surfaced in the intervening 50 years if the run really was that large.

My sister and I are lucky enough to own the only two examples that have been found with their original boxes as of this writing. Both came from the estates of former Breyer reps and had been packed away in boxes forgotten for decades. They are like tiny time capsules---both are absolutely pristine and untarnished.

The November/December 1990 issue of Breyer's magazine Just About Horses featured this intriguing photo of a silver Stablemate Saddlebred and a traditional scale silver Man O' War. The caption says that over the years, Breyer had "contemplated augmenting its line with models such as this." I remember being absolutely in awe of these models when I received this issue of JAH as a kid. I still covet a silver plated Man O' War! (Who wouldn't?)

Since 1990, Breyer has produced models painted with silver paint, like the 1993 BreyerFest judges' model, the silver filigree Proud Arab Mare (designed by the late longtime collector Shirley Ketchuck).

They've achieved shinier, more reflective silver filigree painted models in the last 10 years or so with various holiday web specials like Banff, the silver buffalo.

But it was only recently that Breyer finally successfully duplicated that lovely mirror-like finish that mimics silver plating. Fittingly, the first model to sport this look since 1975 was also made to commemorate a Breyer anniversary. This stunning mini Brishen was produced as the rare chase piece for the 70th Anniversary Mystery Horse Surprise Stablemate blind bags in 2020. Perhaps a traditional scale model in this finish is finally on the horizon?

 

 

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1) Young, Nancy Atkinson. Breyer Molds and Models: Horses, Riders, and Animals 1950-1997. (Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd, 1999), pg. 300.